Cotton-seed delinter



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. J. FAULKNER.

COTTON SEED DBLINTER.

No. 546,273. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

Qm-Hmeoozo J ames 1 F'zuZZner.

ANDREW IGRMAMINUm-IMD WASMINEIDN. D C

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. J. FAULKNER.

COTTON SEED DELINTER. No. 546,273. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

qxhbnmwlo James J IZzuZ/iner.

J. J. FAULKNER. COTTON. SEED DELINTER.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 10,1895.

amen/to; I J ames JFZ uZ/mer (N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. J. FAULKNER.

COTTON SEED DELINTER. No. 546,273. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

mvmtoz Wil s Lama James JIZLuZImeI-r et ical.

UNITED STATES PATENT JAMES J. FAULKNER, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE STANDARD COTTON SEED COMPANY, OF ARKANSAS.

COTTON-SEED DELINTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,273, dated September 10, 1895.

Application filed June 13, 1895 1 Serial No. 552,686. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: casings, on the inner face of which projecting Be it known that 1, JAMES J. FAULKNER, a pins are placed, and sometimes in connection citizen of the United States, residing at Memwith disks composed of emery or other abradphis,=in the county of Shelbyand State of Tening substance. In all of these constructions, 55 5 nessee, have invented certain new and useful however, the same fundamental principle of Improvements in OottonSeed Delinters; and action has been utilized-namely, that of ob- I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, taining a cleaning or scouring of the seed nuclear, and exact description of the invention, der treatment by imparting to the seed a censuch as will enable others skilled in the art to trifugal motion andthen scouringordelinting 6o [0 which it appertains to make and use the same. it by making it move between two closely- My invention relates to improvements in spaced abrading-surfaces. While this conmachines for treating cotton-seed, and parstruction has resulted in the production of ticularly toimprovementsin that class thereof several machines which are successfully opkuown as delinters;andit consistsin theimerative and have considerable capacity in 65 proved cottonseed delinter whose construchandling seed it is still unsatisfactory in that tion and arrangement of parts will be hereit requires so many elements of construction, inafter described, and particularly pointed any one of which by getting out of order can out in the claims. interrupt the operation of the entire machine.

One of the great difficulties with the prac- In all of the constructions now in use the 70 2o tica-l use of the present style of delinters lies seed is subject to the danger of being broken in the number of operative parts which are or injured by the delinting action. A very necessary to make up a complete and sucslight injury to the seed, such as that of cessfulmachine. WVhile several construccracking the hullof the same, almost destroys tions have been devised which are oomparathe commercial value of the seed, and this is 75 tively inexpensive in all-0f them there must to be avoided, if possible.

be at least the following elements of construc- The machines which have been heretofore tion: first, abrading-surfaces between which constructed have moreover been formed so the delinting action can take place; second, that if through any mishap a large nail or means for removing the lint separated by the spike should be fed into the machine such 80 action of the machine from the seed under foreign substance will break the abradingtreatment; third, aseed-inlet opening; fourth, surfaces and compel a complete overhauling a seed-discharge opening, and, fifth, means of the machine. Thegreatest objection,howfor removing the dirt which is separated from ever,which isinherent in the present construethe seed during the course of the delintiug tion is that it afiords no possibility of greatly 85 5 operation. increasing the capacity of the machine. The

By far the greater part of the cotton-seed capacity is limited by the amount of abraddelinters which have heretofore been coningsurface which can be utilized, and this structed have been made with a view to efbeing dependent upon the circumference of footing the removal of the lint from the seed the space surrounding the delinting-cylinder 9o by a scouring action between two closelyis limited by the diameter of the cylinder spaced abrading-surfaces. A great number which is used. Structural reasons dictate a r of these machines have effected the scouring reasonable limit in the size of deliuting-cylinaction between the periphery of a cylinder ders, so that the possibility of greatly increascovered with an abrading substance and a ing the capacityof acotton-seed delinterdoes 5 circumferential casing, thelintbeing removed not existwhile the present constructions are either through an aperture formed in the side followed. ot' the casing or through perforations formed The object of my present invention is to in the casing itself. This construction has provide a cotton-seed delinter which shall he been varied by the substitution of revolving more simple in construction than those hith- I00 5o paddles for the debuting-cylinder, said paderto devised, which shall operate in such a dles operating sometimes in connection with manner as to render any breakage or injury to the seed under treatment impossible, which shall provide a more complete and satisfactory means for removing the lint :which is separated by the action of the machine from the seed, and which shall permit the possibility of largely increasing the capacity of a single machine by a simple duplication of abradingsurfaces.

In accomplishing the object of my invention 1 havejournaled a seriesof positively-actuated abrading-rolls so close together that their surfaces are in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arrange themin an arc of a circle, so that-,in connection with an abrading-cylinder which covers the space left between the end rolls, which cylinder moves in the same direction of rotation as the rolls, they completely inclose the space into which the seed to be treated may be fed. Seed fed into the space thus formed is constantly subjected to an abrading or scouring action, as it meets with none but abradingsurfaces. It is rapidly delinted. Injury to the seed is impossible, because when the rollsinclosing the space are rotated in the same direction contiguous faces of the same move in opposite directions, so that there is no chance for seed to escape. Removal of lint is, however, effected by the abradingrolls themselves as they complete their revo-' lution, and the lint is discharged outside of the pocket formed by the rolls. For the purpose of keeping the abrading-surfaces of the rolls perfectly clean I preferably provide an air-current, which sweeps over the exterior surface of such rolls and removes therefrom all of the lint which they have taken from the seed.

The construction described is by itself operative, but its capacity can be largely increased by providing a central agitator in the pocket formed by the rolls, which will throw the'seed against the surfaces of the abradingrolls. 1 therefore preferably use such an agitator. To prevent the surface of the abradingcylinder being covered with lint, I further make use of dofting-brushes, which operate upon the surface of the cylinder and sweep oft of the same such lint as adheresthereto, an air-current removing the lint into an exhaust lint-discharge fiume.

- This machine may be placed either horizontally or vertically, but in my preferred con struction I make use of a vertical machine, as thereby the feed of the seed into the machine, its passage through the machine, and the discharge thereof is much simplified. The feeding of the seed into the machine can be effected through a stand-pipe arranged so as to discharge its contents into the top of the pocket formed by the rolls. The discharge of the seed can be efiected by making one of the abrading-rolls a little shorter than the others, while extending the spindle on which the roll is mounted -to its lower bearing. Through the space thus formed the seed will be discharged, the discharge being limited and controlled by a gate or valve, which closes to any desired extent such opening. Removal of the coarse dirt, which is usually present with cotton-seed While itis being delintedfor instance, leaves or cotton-bolls is effected by using a perfo rated plate as the bottom of the inclosed space formed by the rolls, through the perforations in which plate the coarse dirt as it is ground up by the action of the machine may pass.

As any number of pockets or rolls may be used around a single central abrading-cylinder, it ,will'be seen that the capacity of a machine constructed in accordance with my present design is capable of variation within wide limits. When several pockets are used in connection with a single abrading-cylinder, it

is, however, advisable to provide means for throwing any one of such pockets out of action should one of the abrading-rolls forming the same become damaged, in order thatshutting down of the entire machine will not be necessary. I accomplish this object by pivoting the rolls to each other in such a manner as to enable them to be swung out and away from the abrading-cylinder. Damage done to any one series of rolls can thus be repaired without interrupting the operation of the remaining rolls.

My invention is fully described in the drawings, which accompany and form a part of this application, in which the same reference letters and numerals refer to the same orcorresponding parts, and in which- Figure l is a view of the entire machine, a portion of the casing being broken away so as to show the arrangement of the various parts. Fig.2 is a centralvertical section of the machine. Fig. 3 .is a horizontal crosssection thereof, showing the position and arrangement of the various compartments formed by the different series of rolls to the central delinting-cylinder, and also showing the relative positions which the doffingbrushes occupy. Fig. dis a bottom plan view of the machine, showing the operative mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the lower portion of the rolls constituting one of the pockets, showing the seed-outlet, and also illustrating the manner in which the rolls can be thrown out of engagement with the central delinting-cylinder. The central delintingcylinder is not shown in this drawing. Fig. 6 is a view of the cover used on the lower surface of the perforated plate shown in Fig. 5, which forms the bottom of each abradingpocket.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the machine-frame. In this frame are journaled in suitable bearings the central abradingcylinder A; the series of rolls B, which form the abrading-pockets of the machine; the dotting-brushes O, which act to free the surface of the delinting-cylinder from lint, and the. agitators D, arranged centrally within the pockets formed by the abrading-rolls. All of the abrading-rolls have the same direction of rotation, being operated by any suitable consection to a power element, such as the belt connection shown in the drawings, with the shaft on which the abradingcylinder is mounted. The cylinder itself rotates in the same direction as the rolls, so that there is presented in this machine a number of abradingsurfaces, all rotating in the same direction. The feeding of seed to the machine takes place through stand-pipes E, one of which is arranged vertically over each pocket of abrading-rolls, the feed to each of said pockets being separate and distinct from that to the others. The rolls are placed so close together that seed will not pass between the same, and they are further arranged in the arc of a circle, so that with the aid of the abrading-cylinder, which closes the space between the end rolls, they completely surround the space into which the seed is fed.

The ab'rading action takes place by the seed coming in contact with the abrading-surface of the rolls. use of the agitator D, on account of the irregular shape of the pocket formed by the rolls. The agitator, however,by its rapid revolution increases the abrading action by throwing the seed rapidly against the abrading-sur faces, so that the seed becomes in time thoroughl y secured, and its surface is finally e11- tirely freed from lint. The discharge of the seed is effected through a space formed by making one of the rolls shorter than the rest and extending the bare spindle F to the lower hearing. In order to check excessive. discharge of the seed through such opening and and to regulate the discharge in accordance with the condition of the seed under treatment, I make use of a curved valve G, which is stationed in the discharge-spout and can be adjusted vertically, so as to closesaid opening to any desired extent.

While the lint is thus removed from all portions of the seed under treatment, and

while injury to the seed isimpossible because contiguous faces of the abrading-rolls move in opposite directions and thus will not permit the seed being ground between the same, the machine would not be successfully operative if means were not provided for constantly removing the lint separated from the seed by the action of the machine. The lint removal is effected by the lint clingingto the abrading-surface of the rolls themselves and being drawn out with such rolls asthey complete their revolution, it then being swept off the surface of such rolls by an upward aircurrent, caused by the exhaust-fan H, which is stationed in the air-flume I at the top of the machine. this machine is thus as great as the abradingsurface itself, so that instantaneous removal of the lint separated by the action of the machine is effected, and the efficiency of the machine is much increased over the present constructions.

Should spikes or nails he accidentally fed into this machine, no injury can take place Thisit would do without the.

The lint-removing surface in to the abrading-surface, as the spikes cannot be drawn outward between the abradingrolls. Coarse dirt, such as leaves or bolls, which cannot be easily separated from the seed before it is fed to the abrading-surface, is removed from the machine through the perforated plate J, which closes the bottom of the space formed by the abradiug-rolls, and is provided with a cover M to govern the number of openings exposed at any one time. The upper surface of the perforated plate is preferably made of emery, that being the abrading material which I use in this machine. The perforations in the plate increase in diameter as they approach the bottom of the same, so that any particles of dirt which enter the perforations in the plate will escape readily from the perforations without clogging or obstructing the same.

In the construction shown in the drawings three pockets formed of abrading-rolls are represented around the surface of the abrading-cylinder and three dotting-brushes are shown to clean the surface of the abradingcylinder, the lint being drawn upward into the Hume I in connection with the lint removed from the surfaces of the abradingrolls. It is apparent, however, that any number of abrading-pockets may be used around the periphery of the abrading-cylinder by simply increasing the diameter of such cylinder, so that it will present a periphery of sufficient extent to enable the proper spacing of the desired number of pockets. When several pockets are used around the surface of onecylinder, it becomes, however, a matter of essential importance that means he provided for removing any one set of rolls from its close proximity to the abrading-surface of the central cylinder, so that the machine will not have to be shut down should any one of the rolls in any one of the pockets become injured. Thisl effect in the construction shown by pivoting the central roll B of each pocket in fixed hearings in the machine-frame and pivoting to the same with a swinging connection the remaining rolls forming the pocket, locking-plates B being used to hold the rolls in any desired position. It is a very easy matter to swing the rolls forming any one pocket out of connection with the'abradingsurface of the central cylinder, and repairof the surface of any of the rolls forming a pocket can thus be quickly effected without rendering necessary the stoppage of the entire machine.

The abrading-rolls themselves are preferably, though not necessarily, made with a smooth emery surface, as shown in the drawings. They may be made in asingle mold,or may be made of a number of short sections B each of which is glued or otherwise secured to the central spindle. This construction is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The size of the space inclosed by each series of rolls may be varied within quite wide limits; but I prefer not to make such space greater than a width of six to eight inches at any point.

In order to permit ready access to any of the working parts, I provide the exterior casing L with a number of doors L, any one of which may be opened when desired to secure access to the interior of the machine.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Seed is fed into the pockets formed by the ab-rading-rolls through the feed stan d-pipes E. As soon as such pockets become filled with seed, the securing or abrading action commences, and lint and fine dirt are removed from the seed by the revolving surfaces of the rolls, which form the pockets,such lint being swept upward into the air-flume I by the aircurrent caused by the exhaust-fan H. The seed itself is prevented from mutilation by the impossibility of its being carried out by the abrading-rolls, and as it'becomes entirely sepaarated from the lint is discharged through the space surrounding the spindle F. The discharge is regulated by the valve G and is controlled so that only perfectly-debuted seed is discharged. If desired, the valve G may be entirely closed and the discharge of the seed take place through the perforated plate J. Removal of coarse dirt from the machine is effected through the perforations in the bottom plate .I. Should any of the rolls forming any one of the abrading-pockets become injured, the rolls of this pocket are quickly swung back from contact with the central delinting-cylinder and repair is at once effected. The rolls can now be swung back again into operative position and locked in position.

The capacity of the machine which I have thus described is only limited by the number of pockets which it may be found in practice advisable to use around the central delintingcylinder. Each one of the pockets I have found to have a capacity equal to that of any one of the machines which are now in operation.

I do not herein claim the use of a stand-pipe as the means for feeding the seed to the abrading-pockets, as that is claimed in a companion application filed by me May 4, 189st, Serial No. 548,146.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rotating surfaces, placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form a complete inclosure for the body of seed under treatment, and means for causing said surfaces to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet anddischarge openings, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

2. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rotatin g surfaces placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form a complete inclosure for the body of seed under treatment, and means for causing said surfaces to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for causing an air current to sweep over the outer faces of the surfaces, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls, placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form a complete inclosure for the seed under treatment, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

4. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively actuated rolls, placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form an irregularly shaped complete inclosure for the seed under treatment, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the ma chine, substantially as described.

5. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls, placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form a complete inclosure for the seed under treatment, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for forcing the seed under treatment in close contact with the abrading surfaces, and means for removing the lint separated by the actionof the machine, substantially as described.

6. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls, placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form a complete inclosure for the seed under treatment, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, an agitator operating within the inclosure, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

7. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle, and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the-opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

' 8. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively actuated rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle, and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls andsaid cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, and means for forcing the seed into intimate contact with the abrading surfaces, substantially as described.

9. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively actuated rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle, and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge open ings, means. for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, and an agitator stationed within the inclosure formed by the rolls and cylinder, substantially as described.

10. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated, vertically arranged abrading rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle, and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, and an agitator stationed within the inclosu re formed by the rolls and cylinder, substantially as described.

11. In a cotton seed delinter, the combine. tion with a series of positively-actuated, vertically-arranged abrading rolls, placed with their surfaces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged to form a complete inclosure, and means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, and a perforated plate forming the bottom of said inclosure, the perforations thereof being too small to permit the passage of seed therethrough, substantially as described.

12. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rotating abrading rolls, placed with their surfaces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged in the form of an inclosure, the diameter of a portion of one of said rolls being reduced, of means for causing said rolls to rotate in the same direction, substantially as described.

13. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rotating abrading rolls, placed with their surfaces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged in the form of an inclosure, the diameter of a portion of one of said rolls being reduced, of a seed inlet opening, means for governing the discharge around the reduced portion of said roll, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

14. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated, rotat ing abrading rolls, placed with their surfaces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, and arranged in the form of an inclosure, the diameter of a portion of one of said rolls being reduced, of a seed inlet opening, a valve for controlling the discharge around the reduced portion of said roll, and means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, substantially as described.

15. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the came, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for causing an air current to sweep over the outer faces of the moving surfaces, substantially as described.

16. In a cotton seed delinter, the combina tion with a series of positively-actuated rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle, and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will notpass between the same, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for causing an air current to sweep over the outer faces of the moving surfaces, and a doffing brush acting upon the periphery of the abrading cylinder, substantially as described.

17. In a cotton seed delinter, the combination with a series of positively-actuated rolls, arranged in an arc of a circle, and placed with their meeting faces in such close proximity that seed will not pass between the same, an abrading cylinder mounted so as to prevent discharge of seed through the opening formed by the end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate in the same direction, of seed inlet and discharge openings, means for removing the lint separated by the action of the machine, and means for permitting the rolls to be released from their end rolls, and means for causing said rolls and said cylinder to rotate'in the same direo- I 5 tion, of seed inlet and discharge openings, and means for removing the lint separated by, the action of the machine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in presence of two Witnesses.

. JAMES J. FAULKNER. \Vitnesses:

O. L. BERLIN, JOHN HALLUM. 

